Director of Public Sector Strategy & Partnerships
About Backpack Healthcare
Backpack Healthcare delivers accessible, culturally competent behavioral health care to Medicaid-insured children, adolescents, and families across Maryland, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, and Virginia. We partner with schools, government agencies, and community organizations to close critical gaps in behavioral health access for under-served populations. As we scale our public sector footprint, we're building a dedicated individual contributor role to drive school-based expansion, unlock government funding, and develop community and agency networks that extend our reach into the communities we serve.
Role Overview
This is an individual contributor role designed for someone who understands how public institutions make decisions, how government funding moves, and how to navigate the complexity of school districts and state agencies.
You'll own Backpack's growth across school-based behavioral health services, government grants and contracts, and strategic community partnerships. This is not a traditional healthcare sales role; it requires equal parts relationship-building, grant development expertise, and public sector fluency.
What You'll Do
School-Based Expansion
Develop and execute strategy for school district partnerships including MOUs, embedded clinician agreements, and district-wide service contracts
Navigate school procurement, board approvals, and academic calendar constraints
Build relationships with superintendents, student services directors, and state education agencies
Represent Backpack at education conferences and school health forums
Government Grants & Contracts
Identify and pursue federal, state, and local grant opportunities
Lead grant applications from concept through submission in collaboration with internal teams
Respond to government RFPs and navigate public sector contracting processes
Build relationships with state Medicaid offices, departments of education, and behavioral health authorities
Monitor policy developments that create funding opportunities for school and youth mental health services
Strategic Public Sector Partnerships
Cultivate referral partnerships with government agencies and community-based organizations serving youth and families
Develop partnership frameworks suited to public and nonprofit institutional decision-making
Collaborate with internal teams to ensure public sector commitments are operationally feasible
Cross-Functional Leadership
Partner with clinical, operations, marketing, and finance teams on public sector strategy
Maintain accurate pipeline and grant tracking in CRM
Contribute to market expansion and revenue forecasting for public sector segment
Qualifications:
Required:
A minimum of 8 years of experience in healthcare sales with 2+ years in public sector sales, government relations, partnership development, or grant acquisition
Proven track record closing partnerships or contracts with school districts and/or government agencies
Experience with government grants and RFP processes
Understanding of how school districts, state agencies, and public institutions operate
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
Self-directed with ability to manage long, complex sales cycles
Willingness to travel up to 40%
Preferred:
Experience in behavioral health, mental health, telehealth, or youth-serving healthcare organizations
Existing relationships with state departments of education, state behavioral health authorities, or Medicaid agencies in MD, GA, IL, MI, or VA
Background in Medicaid-funded school-based health services or school-based health centers (SBHCs)
Grant writing experience with demonstrated award history ($500K+ in secured funding)
Familiarity with MTSS, IEP/504 frameworks, and school behavioral health integration models
Experience with foster care, juvenile justice, child welfare, or social services sectors
Knowledge of Title IV-E, IDEA, or Medicaid school-based claiming programs
Background working in or with community-based organizations or nonprofit sector
Compensation & Benefits
Base Salary: $125,000 - $150,000 (depending on experience)
Performance Incentives: Uncapped commission structure tied to contracts closed, grant awards secured, and referral partner activation
On-Target Earnings (OTE): $200,000 - $240,000+
Equity: Competitive stock option package
Benefits Package
Backpack Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that the strength of our care depends on the diversity and well-being of our team. We celebrate differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical and mental ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, and other traits that make each person unique. We welcome and encourage diverse candidates to apply for any position for which they are qualified and to bring their unique perspectives, experiences, and talents to our team.
Apply Now
Backpack Healthcare delivers accessible, culturally competent behavioral health care to Medicaid-insured children, adolescents, and families across Maryland, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, and Virginia. We partner with schools, government agencies, and community organizations to close critical gaps in behavioral health access for under-served populations. As we scale our public sector footprint, we're building a dedicated individual contributor role to drive school-based expansion, unlock government funding, and develop community and agency networks that extend our reach into the communities we serve.
Role Overview
This is an individual contributor role designed for someone who understands how public institutions make decisions, how government funding moves, and how to navigate the complexity of school districts and state agencies.
You'll own Backpack's growth across school-based behavioral health services, government grants and contracts, and strategic community partnerships. This is not a traditional healthcare sales role; it requires equal parts relationship-building, grant development expertise, and public sector fluency.
What You'll Do
School-Based Expansion
Develop and execute strategy for school district partnerships including MOUs, embedded clinician agreements, and district-wide service contracts
Navigate school procurement, board approvals, and academic calendar constraints
Build relationships with superintendents, student services directors, and state education agencies
Represent Backpack at education conferences and school health forums
Government Grants & Contracts
Identify and pursue federal, state, and local grant opportunities
Lead grant applications from concept through submission in collaboration with internal teams
Respond to government RFPs and navigate public sector contracting processes
Build relationships with state Medicaid offices, departments of education, and behavioral health authorities
Monitor policy developments that create funding opportunities for school and youth mental health services
Strategic Public Sector Partnerships
Cultivate referral partnerships with government agencies and community-based organizations serving youth and families
Develop partnership frameworks suited to public and nonprofit institutional decision-making
Collaborate with internal teams to ensure public sector commitments are operationally feasible
Cross-Functional Leadership
Partner with clinical, operations, marketing, and finance teams on public sector strategy
Maintain accurate pipeline and grant tracking in CRM
Contribute to market expansion and revenue forecasting for public sector segment
Qualifications:
Required:
A minimum of 8 years of experience in healthcare sales with 2+ years in public sector sales, government relations, partnership development, or grant acquisition
Proven track record closing partnerships or contracts with school districts and/or government agencies
Experience with government grants and RFP processes
Understanding of how school districts, state agencies, and public institutions operate
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
Self-directed with ability to manage long, complex sales cycles
Willingness to travel up to 40%
Preferred:
Experience in behavioral health, mental health, telehealth, or youth-serving healthcare organizations
Existing relationships with state departments of education, state behavioral health authorities, or Medicaid agencies in MD, GA, IL, MI, or VA
Background in Medicaid-funded school-based health services or school-based health centers (SBHCs)
Grant writing experience with demonstrated award history ($500K+ in secured funding)
Familiarity with MTSS, IEP/504 frameworks, and school behavioral health integration models
Experience with foster care, juvenile justice, child welfare, or social services sectors
Knowledge of Title IV-E, IDEA, or Medicaid school-based claiming programs
Background working in or with community-based organizations or nonprofit sector
Compensation & Benefits
Base Salary: $125,000 - $150,000 (depending on experience)
Performance Incentives: Uncapped commission structure tied to contracts closed, grant awards secured, and referral partner activation
On-Target Earnings (OTE): $200,000 - $240,000+
Equity: Competitive stock option package
Benefits Package
Backpack Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that the strength of our care depends on the diversity and well-being of our team. We celebrate differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical and mental ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, and other traits that make each person unique. We welcome and encourage diverse candidates to apply for any position for which they are qualified and to bring their unique perspectives, experiences, and talents to our team.
Apply Now